Chief executive praises fundraising efforts
Portsmouth Football Club are delighted to announce the completion of the lease to acquire land adjacent to the existing training ground.
This will allow work to begin on two additional full-size pitches, which will provide a permanent base for the club’s academy.
Pompey supporters raised an incredible £270,000 via the Tifosy scheme to fund the project.
And work is expected to start shortly, so that the pitches will be ready for the start of the 2016/17 season.
Pompey chief executive Mark Catlin said: “It was a phenomenal effort from our incredible fans to raise more than £250,000 in order to fund these extra pitches.
“Anybody who has visited our new training ground will know what a great facility it now is – and a place we can finally call our own.
“But these additional pitches will also allow the academy – the future of our club – to be based there.
“This club continues to developboth on and off the pitch and this is yet another important step in our growth.”
Academy manager Mark Kelly added: “We’ve seen plenty of players make the step up from the youth set-up and make their senior debuts over the past few years.
“These pitches will bring the academy under-16s and under-18s even closer to the first team environment.
“That, in turn, will allow them to learn from experienced professionals, which will be extremely beneficial for their own development.”